it's not a cliff, it's more like a slope. the problem, of course, is that with huge spending cuts and tax hikes, you could send the economy into recession and that is true if that keeps up for a while, if congress, for instance, on january 20th, let's say, repeals the tax hikes retroactively to january 1st and restores the spending, i don't think there's any great impact. the market will readjust and you have some flexibility. but not too much. you've got to solve this problem in a few weeks. i don't think it's magic about january 1st. >> so it's fair to say the lack of urgency right now from washington is because many folks think like you, there's not a need to have this, you can wait until the 20th? >> no, i made up the number the 20th, could be the 15th. i think they are stymied, frankly. republicans in the house show they are unwilling to do anything, to say they won't pass a tax relief for everyone under $1 million unless you give a relief to those over $1 million is, first of all, stupid economically, but second of all, no one's going to agree to that. i think the republican
